Our Guest Minister for February 11 is Rev. Dr. Iraida Ruiz de Porras. Dr. Ruiz de Porras's call to ministry was affirmed in her first appointment in Puerto Rico in 2005 while leading children to mission and ministry through contemporary Christian music and dance. Her experience with children "such as these" shaped and formed her call, and she obtained her Master of Divinity from Drew Theological School in 2010. In 2017, she ventured to Perkins School of Theology in Dallas, Texas, where she enrolled in the Spiritual Direction Program and was certified as a Spiritual Director in 2019. Dr. Ruiz de Porras is also a Fellow of the Lewis Community Leadership since 2019.
She has served four contextually and multi-culturally diverse local churches in the Greater New Jersey Conference of The United Methodist Church, including her current appointment in Butler, NJ. Dr. Ruiz de Porras also serves various agencies in GNJ. She finds joy in helping congregations live resurrected lives. She graduated from the Doctor of Ministry Program at Drew Theological School in 2022 and wrote in her dissertation: "Every community has mission and outreach opportunities that keep the church relevant and alive. A pulse and willingness from a church leader(s) and the congregation will help the church heal, grow, follow, and lead."
Dr. Ruiz de Porras enjoys crafting and practices bowling and golf with her husband, Kevin Newland. She is the proud mom of a 28-year-old daughter, Alexandra, and has a Shih Tzu-Bichon dog Sally that keeps her entertained with her overload of cuteness!